2024-01-29 03:07:03
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) indicated on Monday, January 29, that the power of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) had been restored – and the Moon lander has resumed its operations. After it landed on January 20, JAXA said that problems with the craft’s solar batteries meant they were not generating power.
“Last evening we succeeded in establishing communication with SLIM, and resumed operations,” JAXA said on X. “We immediately started scientific observations with MBC, and have successfully obtained first light for 10-band observation,” it said, referring to the lander’s multiband spectroscopic camera. The agency proceeded then to post an image shot by the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) of a “toy poodle”, a rock observed near the lander. This shape-shifting mini-rover, slightly bigger than a tennis ball, was co-developed by the firm behind the Transformer toys.
The touchdown made Japan only the fifth nation to achieve a soft lunar landing, following the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and India. But around three hours following landing, JAXA decided to switch SLIM off with 12% power remaining to allow for a possible resumption when the sun’s angle changed.
The lander achieved its goal of landing within 100 meters of its target, touching down 55 meters away. That is much more precise than the usual landing zone range that experts put at several kilometers. SLIM was aiming for a crater where the Moon’s mantle, the usually deep inner layer beneath its crust, is believed to be exposed on the surface.
1706516371
#Japanese #Moon #lander #resumed #operations
